Status: Pending Board Approval

Board President Susan Doyle called the meeting to order at 7:15 pm.

The Board unanimously approved the minutes of the August 17, 1999 Board of Directors’ Meeting.

A. Chair's Report


Susan Doyle stated the committees have all been working. At the last Board meeting committees were created and chairs were appointed. She asked Lurline McGregor to give the President’s report and the committee chairs for their respective reports.

B. President's Report



Lurline McGregor updated the Board on the auditor’s report. In response to the management letter which asked 'Olelo to do several things, mostly in the nature of creating a procedures and policy manual, staff is in the process of creating such a manual. Certain parts are going to take awhile to complete because we are updating our accounting software. In the meantime, the human resources and security policies are in the final stages of preparation. We will have met all the audit concerns by the next audit. Lurline also announced that `Olelo won three awards at the Western Regional Conference last weekend in Palo Alto. This year’s competition was the largest ever with over 500 entries. `Olelo had five programs in the finalist round, which consisted of 189 finalists. Three awards was more than any other access center won.

Susan Doyle asked Board Members to introduce themselves to the audience. Lurline also introduced Kawika Na’ho’opi’i and Manny Cano, two new Wai’anae Center employees. Susan acknowledged the volunteer crew from Wai’anae and Nanakuli Schools that was videotaping the Board meeting.



C. Finance Committee Report


Dee Darby stated that the committee will meet again in late November, before the next Board Meeting. Since the last meeting 'Olelo filed the form 990, as required every year. The filing was on time. 'Olelo is also in the process of implementing a new pension plan. In November, bank trustees will meet with staff to set up individual accounts.


D. Program Committee Report


Linda Colburn explained that the Access Services Advisory Committee is made up of 'Olelo community producers. The committee is charged with sharing client interests with the Board. At the last ASAC meeting, two new members filled vacanices: Dennis Ragsdale and Jim Brewer, who is here tonight. Issues the group has discussed so far include: communication with our clients, use of suggestion boxes and bulletin boards, the newsletter, and the web site. The committee has also discussed commercialism, prioritizing community suggestions on how to use some set-aside funds from the Board, and how to support non-profit programming. For the last calendar quarter of the year, a new service is being tested that is designed to allow bonafide non-profit organizations opportunities to promote educational or community building activities via the 'Olelo channels. While not everyone on the committee agreed that that was something they wanted to do, the prevailing opinion was to give it a try and see how it works. With regard to producer concerns, staff and the committee are still working on the edit bay issues and other matters that come to us in the suggestion boxes.

Gary added the committee works very hard. It started about a year and a half ago, and it’s beginning to move in a very good direction. The committee tries to meet once a quarter or as needed. It’s an opportunity for producers and people who are interested in what’s happening at 'Olelo to keep in touch, because through them we get to the Board. If clients have anything to bring up, they should contact one of the ASAC members.

Lurline noted at the ACM Western Regional Conference she learned the Sacramento Access Center produced a program to raise money to send to hurricane victims in Central America. When she asked how they were able to do this, the group replied that their policies allowed for such activity once a year. It took 72 hours to get the program from concept to on the air. That night they raised about $30,000.00. The Center saw no conflict or misuse of resources. Lurline further observed that there appears to be no boundaries for what an access center can do in terms of serving the community.



D. Strategic Planning Committee Report


Joe Lapilio reported that the committee is made up of himself, Linda Colburn, Susan Doyle, Rochelle Gregson, and Marilyn Yoza. The Program Committee has met over the past two months to put together a direction for planning 'Olelo’s future. He asked Lurline to explain the draft Strategic framework.

Lurline - This is a continuation of the work started on the strategic plan last year. The committee is seeking community input on the questions posed in the handout. Lurline announced that handouts were available and that the same information would be posted on the web site and that 'Olelo would be actively seeking community response for the next three months. Lurline explained that the principles detailed in the handout reflect the evolution of 'Olelo from when it originally started up 10 years ago. In general, the nature of public access back then was totally First Amendment, speaker-oriented, with little attention to the needs of the viewer, the rest of the community and virtually no effort by centers to bring in either speakers or viewers. In this regard, the centers were very passive. The First Amendment principle still holds true as far as the public access mission goes, but in view of the considerable resource that 'Olelo offers to the community, we have the ability to go beyond this to expand our mission to include a broader community access purpose. We have the opportunity to actually build communities using 'Olelo as a media resource. This is an evolution that is consistent with what access centers across the nation are doing. Lurline detailed five strategies 'Olelo pursues in implementing this broader community purpose:

1. Promoting services and programs that are relevant to the community through program guides, paid advertisement, etc.;
2. Facilitating the production and cablecast of programs through partnerships with other non-profit organizations;
3. Operating the Wai’anae and Kahuku satellite centers;
4. Creating programs where there is a perceived community need, with the intent of turning it over to volunteers to run later, like Capitol Commentary; and
5. Acquiring programming for cablecast that is not necessarily produced at 'Olelo facilities, but that could be from independent producers, for profit or non-profit organizations, satellite downlink, etc., as long as it’s non-commercial and serves the community.

As 'Olelo pursues these activities, we are seeking comment from community members on the following questions:

1. a)What kind of programming would be useful to your community?
   ( What local programs would you like to see as a viewer considering almost everything we see other than the 6:00 and 10:00 news is beamed down by satellite?)
   b) Who in your community can develop or help us develop these programs?
   (We are not a production house and we want to make clear that we are not seeking this kind of input for 'Olelo to produce programs. We do want to work with the community and whoever would be likely partners to get programming developed that would be relevant with the understanding that eventually, all programing should be volunteer-run.)

2. What’s the best way to let you know what’s happening on 'Olelo channels? (We try to get word out about programs in our program guide, but sometimes there is not enough turnaround time when someone comes in with a tape with late breaking events, and they ask us to air the program immediately. We will do this but at the same time how many people are going to be watching? What’s a good way to get the word out quickly so people will know to watch our programs?)

These are two issues that present an ongoing challenge for us and the answers we get from the community will give us some direction in how we should approach them. The strategic committee is continuing to meet and the comment period will be open for three months, until January 30, 2000. Comments should be in writing because they will be distributed to members of the committee, which will be meeting regularly to review them even before the end of the period. After the three month period closes, the committee will be finalizing a three year strategic plan for presentation at the annual Board Meeting.

None.

Public comment came from twenty people, mostly Wai’anae residents including teachers, Hawaiian leaders, kupuna, politicians, etc. Unanimous praise was given for all the hard work done by Junior and Sparky to make the Wai’anae Media Center a success. Listed below is a summary of comments:
1. We are happy 'Olelo is in our community helping our students.
2. The self esteem of the people in Wai’anae is being raised by 'Olelo.
3. 'Olelo is an empowering tool for the community.
4. Our wish list is for a larger facility and more equipment.
5. On behalf of the schools in Wai’anae, “Thank you, 'Olelo”. You came to our school with the van and trained the kids, and taught them camera secrets.
6. Severely and mildly handicapped children are able to use the facilities, and their confidence gets built up. When a student teaches another student, that’s education.
7. 'Olelo gives opportunity for this community to show its talents. The community is beginning to network within the community.
8. Sparky put me in front of the camera, and it helped me.
9. We are able to get our message out to the community via 'Olelo.
10. A fifteen year old student spoke saying 'Olelo gave her the opportunity to do interviews, tape meetings, edit, and put them on television.
11. Three to four year olds are using the facility with their teachers, and seeing the programs on 'Olelo.
12. 'Olelo is an asset not only to Wai’anae, but to the whole state.
13. How can we help 'Olelo?

Susan Doyle stated many people will watch this Board meeting, which is being taped, and will be envious that Wai’anae has this resource and this feeling of community. She also expressed her pleasure in the positive comments made by those attending. “The main thing that the community can do for 'Olelo,” said Doyle, “is to ensure that 'Olelo serves the purpose of building community, supporting the democratic process, and making sure that diversity is something that we value. The positive comments tonight are the reason why this Board works so hard. We truly thank each of you for all the work you have done in building the Wai’anae community over the years and in supporting us at 'Olelo and supporting the resource here in the community.”

Marilyn Yoza stated this is probably one of the most pleasant Board meetings she has attended. She appreciated the members of the community taking the time to come here this evening to share their thoughts and concerns with the Board.

On behalf of the Board, Linda Colburn thanked Sparky. “You are the public face of the work that we do. Mahalo for your good judgment, your passion, commitment, and support.” Appreciation was also expressed for the Honolulu team.

Meeting adjourned by Susan Doyle at 9:12pm.


Respectfully submitted,



Linda M. Colburn, Secretary